Exercise Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor Salary
Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors earn a median $47,160 a year nationally. Personal Care and Service Occupations
U.S. median
$47,160
$22.67 per hour
Range
$28,800 – $83,100
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
322,930
across the U.S.
▲2.1%
Pay trend: The median for exercise trainers and group fitness instructors in the U.S. rose from $46,180 (May 2024) to $47,160 (May 2025). That roughly kept pace with inflation (2.4%).
What exercise trainers and group fitness instructors do
Instruct or coach groups or individuals in exercise activities for the primary purpose of personal fitness. Demonstrate techniques and form, observe participants, and explain to them corrective measures necessary to improve their skills. Develop and implement individualized approaches to exercise.
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +7.3% (faster than average)
- Openings per year
- 68,000
- Self-employed
- 15%
Employment of exercise trainers and group fitness instructors is projected to grow 7.3% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 68,000 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Exercise Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$40,073
per year · effective tax rate 15.0%
$3,339Monthly
$1,670Twice a month
$1,541Every 2 weeks
$19.27Hourly
- Federal income tax$3,479
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,924
- Medicare (1.45%)$684
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$40,073
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,800 | $13.85 | $25,321 |
| 25th percentile | $35,280 | $16.96 | $30,527 |
| Median (50th) | $47,160 | $22.67 | $40,073 |
| 75th percentile | $61,730 | $29.68 | $51,780 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $83,100 | $39.95 | $67,291 |
Best cities for exercise trainers and group fitness instructors (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston, MA | $65,190 | $51,521 | $47,587 | 7,350 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $62,010 | $49,429 | $44,763 | 2,740 |
| 3 | Portland, OR | $59,570 | $45,662 | $43,314 | 3,160 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $56,380 | $47,481 | $42,725 | 5,800 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $61,000 | $48,691 | $42,116 | 6,820 |
| 6 | Charlotte, NC | $48,540 | $39,754 | $40,837 | 3,470 |
| 7 | Los Angeles, CA | $57,630 | $46,229 | $40,707 | 16,350 |
| 8 | Raleigh, NC | $48,800 | $39,952 | $40,703 | 2,680 |
| 9 | San Diego, CA | $56,420 | $45,345 | $40,528 | 4,810 |
| 10 | Denver, CO | $50,580 | $41,304 | $39,046 | 6,020 |
| 11 | Sacramento, CA | $51,240 | $41,561 | $38,963 | 2,550 |
| 12 | Atlanta, GA | $47,960 | $38,850 | $38,827 | 5,530 |
| 13 | Houston, TX | $44,890 | $38,249 | $38,781 | 4,560 |
| 14 | Phoenix, AZ | $48,300 | $39,990 | $38,707 | 5,730 |
| 15 | Tampa, FL | $45,490 | $38,731 | $38,390 | 2,600 |
| 16 | Philadelphia, PA | $48,040 | $39,305 | $38,326 | 7,820 |
| 17 | New York, NY | $53,580 | $42,935 | $38,143 | 22,970 |
| 18 | Detroit, MI | $46,880 | $38,106 | $37,993 | 2,770 |
| 19 | Dallas, TX | $45,690 | $38,892 | $37,726 | 5,870 |
| 20 | Salt Lake City, UT | $45,520 | $37,673 | $37,349 | 3,090 |
| 21 | Riverside, CA | $48,450 | $39,523 | $37,131 | 2,700 |
| 22 | Chicago, IL | $47,680 | $38,276 | $36,947 | 16,350 |
| 23 | Baltimore, MD | $47,140 | $38,181 | $36,542 | 4,420 |
| 24 | Minneapolis, MN | $44,790 | $36,591 | $34,908 | 5,530 |
| 25 | Kansas City, MO | $38,550 | $32,280 | $34,882 | 3,210 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- Boston, MA — $65,190
- San Jose, CA — $62,010
- San Francisco, CA — $61,000
- Portland, OR — $59,570
- Los Angeles, CA — $57,630
- San Diego, CA — $56,420
- Seattle, WA — $56,380
- New York, NY — $53,580
- Sacramento, CA — $51,240
- Denver, CO — $50,580
- Raleigh, NC — $48,800
- Charlotte, NC — $48,540
- Riverside, CA — $48,450
- Phoenix, AZ — $48,300
- Philadelphia, PA — $48,040
Exercise Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $64,620 | +7.0% | $51,091 | $36,110 – $105,390 | 9,200 |
| Connecticut | $61,580 | −6.4% | $49,813 | $34,010 – $103,590 | 2,850 |
| New Jersey | $59,870 | −1.2% | $48,525 | $34,620 – $104,000 | 11,350 |
| Oregon | $58,510 | +17.7% | $44,903 | $35,390 – $101,380 | 4,800 |
| California | $57,990 | +2.5% | $46,492 | $36,750 – $100,920 | 43,600 |
| Nevada | $57,960 | +17.0% | $48,751 | $32,880 – $84,180 | 3,010 |
| Vermont | $57,300 | +11.8% | $46,735 | $34,210 – $98,730 | 710 |
| Washington | $50,830 | +1.0% | $43,022 | $38,960 – $93,450 | 9,270 |
| Wyoming | $50,250 | +32.3% | $42,556 | $22,150 – $99,490 | 560 |
| Colorado | $49,900 | +1.3% | $40,787 | $34,110 – $87,340 | 10,500 |
| Idaho | $49,780 | +8.6% | $40,648 | $29,170 – $76,340 | 2,360 |
| New Hampshire | $49,360 | −3.9% | $41,841 | $30,750 – $82,600 | 1,500 |
| Hawaii | $48,290 | +1.5% | $38,820 | $33,420 – $81,090 | 990 |
| Arizona | $47,980 | +0.9% | $39,741 | $30,770 – $83,200 | 7,010 |
| Maryland | $47,420 | +4.8% | $38,393 | $33,130 – $81,730 | 8,650 |
| Tennessee | $47,380 | +12.8% | $40,250 | $26,000 – $74,920 | 5,080 |
| Georgia | $47,150 | +4.3% | $38,241 | $28,330 – $80,940 | 7,500 |
| New York | $47,090 | −1.4% | $38,071 | $34,300 – $105,700 | 20,140 |
| Maine | $47,060 | +11.8% | $37,998 | $35,230 – $79,040 | 1,140 |
| Illinois | $46,800 | −6.9% | $37,612 | $31,210 – $92,780 | 19,830 |
| North Carolina | $46,450 | +3.0% | $38,158 | $24,910 – $74,210 | 10,670 |
| Alaska | $46,210 | −1.7% | $39,310 | $27,700 – $61,650 | 800 |
| Rhode Island | $45,640 | +3.8% | $37,757 | $31,200 – $77,230 | 990 |
| Michigan | $45,520 | −0.6% | $37,071 | $28,040 – $76,970 | 6,050 |
| Kentucky | $45,280 | +2.6% | $37,095 | $23,720 – $70,790 | 1,990 |
| Pennsylvania | $45,250 | +7.7% | $37,149 | $27,780 – $67,450 | 11,580 |
| Utah | $44,800 | −8.1% | $37,127 | $25,850 – $83,510 | 6,830 |
| New Mexico | $44,680 | −2.4% | $37,126 | $26,620 – $58,490 | 1,030 |
| Oklahoma | $44,520 | +15.5% | $36,494 | $21,910 – $61,860 | 2,300 |
| Louisiana | $44,410 | +32.5% | $36,917 | $21,190 – $60,180 | 2,290 |
| Delaware | $44,340 | −5.4% | $36,023 | $32,150 – $76,450 | 1,210 |
| Wisconsin | $44,200 | +4.0% | $36,531 | $27,900 – $61,600 | 6,330 |
| Montana | $43,940 | +15.6% | $36,177 | $29,510 – $75,020 | 1,420 |
| South Carolina | $43,630 | +14.3% | $35,776 | $22,730 – $62,120 | 5,130 |
| Minnesota | $43,620 | −1.2% | $35,714 | $29,660 – $66,650 | 7,010 |
| Arkansas | $42,140 | +5.6% | $34,609 | $26,710 – $59,820 | 1,390 |
| Texas | $40,880 | +2.3% | $35,027 | $21,930 – $76,340 | 19,260 |
| Virginia | $40,820 | +5.6% | $33,446 | $26,560 – $74,510 | 12,100 |
| South Dakota | $40,070 | +8.4% | $34,376 | $30,090 – $58,730 | 950 |
| District of Columbia | $39,210 | −13.5% | $32,499 | $37,080 – $80,610 | 1,480 |
| Alabama | $39,180 | +4.8% | $31,967 | $19,330 – $57,320 | 2,680 |
| Florida | $38,800 | +3.7% | $33,356 | $27,450 – $72,870 | 18,070 |
| West Virginia | $38,120 | +2.3% | $31,773 | $22,290 – $55,180 | 500 |
| North Dakota | $37,760 | +2.1% | $32,520 | $30,140 – $60,070 | 680 |
| Missouri | $36,450 | +16.4% | $30,692 | $28,600 – $62,390 | 5,060 |
| Ohio | $36,370 | +15.2% | $31,185 | $24,040 – $59,290 | 9,040 |
| Iowa | $36,160 | +0.1% | $30,512 | $24,660 – $52,810 | 2,510 |
| Kansas | $35,900 | −1.8% | $29,822 | $23,980 – $61,900 | 4,510 |
| Indiana | $34,960 | +4.3% | $29,269 | $22,410 – $56,720 | 5,360 |
| Nebraska | $31,440 | +2.9% | $26,868 | $28,080 – $53,480 | 2,410 |
| Mississippi | $30,540 | −15.8% | $26,229 | $18,720 – $63,390 | 1,260 |
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|---|---|---|---|
| Recreation Worker | $36,560 | High school diploma or equivalent | +4.3% |
| Residential Advisor | $42,240 | High school diploma or equivalent | +3.5% |
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| First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services | $48,560 | High school diploma or equivalent | +5.3% |
| First-Line Supervisor of Personal Service Workers | $48,590 | High school diploma or equivalent | +6.3% |
| Skincare Specialist | $45,330 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +8.8% |
| Costume Attendant | $50,400 | High school diploma or equivalent | +5.9% |
| Crematory Operator | $43,650 | High school diploma or equivalent | +3.1% |
| Animal Trainer | $39,990 | High school diploma or equivalent | +4.2% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a exercise trainer and group fitness instructor make?
The national median salary for exercise trainers and group fitness instructors is $47,160 a year ($22.67 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $28,800 and the top 10% earn over $83,100. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays exercise trainers and group fitness instructors the most?
Massachusetts has the highest median pay at $64,620. After taxes and local prices, Boston, MA offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many exercise trainers and group fitness instructors are there in the U.S.?
About 322,930 people work as exercise trainers and group fitness instructors nationwide.
All 29 cities
- Atlanta, GA
- Austin, TX
- Baltimore, MD
- Boston, MA
- Charlotte, NC
- Chicago, IL
- Dallas, TX
- Denver, CO
- Detroit, MI
- Houston, TX
- Kansas City, MO
- Los Angeles, CA
- Miami, FL
- Minneapolis, MN
- New York, NY
- Philadelphia, PA
- Phoenix, AZ
- Portland, OR
- Raleigh, NC
- Riverside, CA
- Sacramento, CA
- Salt Lake City, UT
- San Diego, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Seattle, WA
- St. Louis, MO
- Tampa, FL
- Washington, DC